Process and apparatus for delivering paper stock to a wire mesh pulley belt



Oct. 18, 1960 IK'AIVALKO 2,956,623

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING PAPER STOCK TO A WIRE MESH PULLEYBELT Filed Nov. 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 2

FIG. 3

ALKO 2,956,623 FOR DELIVERING PAPER MESH LT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 18,1960 K PROCESS AND APPARATUS STOCK TO A WIRE PULLEY BE Filed Nov 13 1957FIG. 4

FIG.

INVENTOR. ww- WW A WW 7 United PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERINGPAPER STUCK TO A WIRE MESH PULLEY BELT Erkki lktivalko, Mannerheimintie64-B-26, Helsinki, Finland Filed Nov. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 694,756

Claims priority, application Finland Apr. 1, 1957 7 Claims. (Cl.162-338) The present invention relates to a process and apparatus formanufacturing paper.

It is conventional in the manufacture of paper to discharge the paperstock from the interior of a head box through a discharge slot thereofonto a moving wire mesh belt. The paper stock is retained on the belt atthe sides thereof by a pair of longitudinal baffles respectively locatedat the sides of the belt and determining the width of the web of paperbeing formed on the belt. The baffles form continuations of side wallsof the head box from which the stock issues onto the belt, and at theseside walls of the head box as well as at the baffles the paper stock dueto frictional engagement with the head box, side walls and baffles tendsto move at a slower rate than at the portion of the stock between theopposite side edges thereof, and as a result the stock does not moveuniformly throughout its entire width and this phenomenon gives rise toimperfections in the formation of the paper.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide aprocess and apparatus which will guarantee that the stock at the ends ofthe slot of the head box moves at the same rate of speed as the stockbetween the ends of the slot at the head box.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an exceedinglysimple structure which will overcome the tendency of the rate ofmovement of the stock to be retarded at the ends of the slot at the headbox.

With the above objects in view the present invention includes a processaccording to which a fluid such as a suitable liquid is introduced intothe head box at the ends of the discharge slot thereof, and this fluidmoves out through the ends of the slot in a manner which prevents thestock from being retarded in its movement at the ends of the slot, andin this way the stock moves uniformly across the head box along theentire length of the discharge slot thereof.

Also with the above objects in view, the present invention includes inthe side walls of the head box grooves leading to the slot and adaptedto receive liquid which flows along the grooves to the slot in order toprevent the stock from being retarded in its movement at the ends of theslot.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, Willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic partly sectional top plan view ofpart of a paper manufacturing machine, Fig. 1 illustrating the problemwhich is solved with the process and apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a part of a papermanufacturing machine which is located 2,956,fi23 Patented Oct. 18, 1960at the junction between the head box and the moving wire mesh belt;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view which is diagrammatic innature and which corresponds to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 showing the manner inwhich the problem is solved with the structure of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view showing part of the structure of Fig. 3 on an enlargedscale so as to clearly illustrate the details of the structure of theinvention; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VV of Fig. 4 inthe direction of the arrows.

In Fig. 1 there is shown diagrammatically in a top plan view one of theside baffle plates 1 which extends along the side of the moving wiremesh belt, this baflle plate 1 forming an extension of the side Wall ofthe head box, this head box side wall being shown in section in Fig. 1,and the stock issues in the direction of the horizontal arrows of Fig. 1through the slot which is located along the vertical line of Fig. 1 atthe junction between the side Wall of the head box and the baffle 1. Asthe stock moves outwardly from the head box it tends to flow at the endsof the discharge slot in the direction of arrows a toward the battle 1to engage the latter at the region b and to rebound therefrom in thedirection of the arrows c. As a result there is a formation in the webof fiber doc and lumps, and this floc and lumps cause flow disturbancesand lack of uniformity in the paper web. These problems are avoided withthe process and apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 it will be seen that the paper stock isdelivered through the diagrammatically illustrated rectifier roll 4 intothe interior of the head box which includes the bottom wall 2 as well asa front wall and a pair of side walls, one of these side walls beingshown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the front wall curving downwardly toward thebottom end thereof in the manner shown in section in Fig. 2, Fig. 3indicating the side wall 5. The baffle 1 forms an extension of the sidewall 5, and of course another side wall 5 and another baffle 1 arelocated at the opposite side of the apparatus. The side walls togetherwith the front and bottom walls of the head box form the elongateddischarge slot 3 extending across the head box and the bottom end of thefront Wall thereof, and through the discharge slot 3 the stock isdischarged onto the moving wire mesh belt which moves at its upper runbetween the pair of baffles 1 to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3,this wire mesh belt being shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

In accordance with the present invention the side Walls 5 of the headbox are each formed next to the bottom wall 2 with an elongated groove14 located in the interior of the head box, extending parallel to thebottom wall 2, and leading to the discharge slot 3. According to thepresent invention a liquid such as Water at a suitable pressure isintroduced into the pair of grooves 14 to flow therealong to the innersurfaces of the baflles 1, and this liquid prevents the stock frommoving at a slower rate at the ends of the slot and along the baflles 1,so that in this way the entire stock moves uniformly across the entirewidth of the wire mesh belt, and the above difficulties are avoided.

As is shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 each of the side walls 5 isformed rearwardly of the slot 3 with an opening which is closed by aplug 7. This plug 7 has a flange 6 which engages the exterior surface ofthe side wall 5, and the plug 7 is formed with a pair of openings 12 and13 passing therethrough. It will be noted that the ends of the openings12 and 13 at the inner surface of the plug 7 are located nearer to thedischarge slot 3 than the ends of the openings 12 and 13 at the exteriorsurface of the plug 7, so that the liquid moving through these openingsmoves toward the discharge slot 3 when reaching the groove 14 whichcommunicates with the openings 12 and 13 in the manner indicated mostclearly in Fig. 4. Thus, the plug 7 forms a part of theside wall and isformed with a groove communicating with the openings 12 and 13 andforming an. extension of the groove 14. In other words the groove \14 ofeach side wall extends in part along a portion ofthe plug 7- of the sidewall and in part forwardly of the plug 7 to the discharge slot 3. At itsend 15 which is mostdistant from the discharge slot 3 each groove 14 isundercut in the manner indicated most clearly in Fig. 4, so that theliquid entering through the opening 13 of, the plug 7 arrives in thegroove 14' at the undercut end thereof to flow alongthe groove 14toward. the slot 3.

A suitable means is provided to fix the plugs 7 on the side Walls 5,respectively, and to simultaneously serve to supply liquid to theopenings of the plugs 7. As may be seen from Figs. 4 and 5, as well asFig. 3, this means takes the form of a conduit 11 having an enlargedhollow end portion provided with an outer flange 9 which is fixed to thewall 5 as by the screws 8. The end portion of the conduit which isprovided with the flange 9 also is formed with a suitable groove whichreceives the annular flange 6 of the plug 7, as indicated in Fig. 4.Between the plug 7 and the smaller tubular part of the conduit 11, thelatter is provided with an enlarged hollow end portion 10 carrying theflange 9 and providing a free space which communicates with the outerends of the openings 12 and 13. By connecting the conduits 11 to asuitable source of liquid such as water under pressure, this liquidflows into the hollow spaces 10 and from the latter into the openings 12and 13 in the directions of the arrows indicated in Fig. 4, so that theliquid then flows to the grooves 14 in order to prevent the flow ofstock from being retarded at the ends of the slot as well as at thesurfaces of the baffles 1. As is apparent from Fig. 5 the opening 12 isof an elongated rectangular cross section and extends vertically incross section, and the same is true of the groove v14', and the opening"13 has a-similar cross section.

The results of the invention may be accomplished in other Ways. Forexample, instead of providing a liquid under pressure which moves alongthe outer ends of the web to prevent the stock from being retarded inits movement at the outer side edges of the web, separate belt portionsmay be provided at opposite sides of the apparatus, and these beltportions may be moved at a rate faster than an intermediate belt portionlocated between the edge belt portions, so that said edge belt portionsalso will prevent the stock from being retarded in its movement at theside edges of the web.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofprocess and apparatus for manufacturing paper, differing from the typesdescribed above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inprocess and apparatus for providing a uniform rate of movement of paperstock, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, sincevarious modifications and structural changes may be made withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed asv new and desired. to be secured by Letters. Patentis:

1. In a machine for manufacturing paper, in combination, a head boxhaving front and bottom walls and a pair of opposed side walls, all ofsaid walls cooperating together to define a discharge slot extendingacross the head box for delivering paper stock from the interior of thehead box through said slot onto a moving wire mesh belt, said side wallseach being formed at its inner surface in the interior of the head boxwith an elongated groove leading to the slot in a directionsubstantially parallel to said bottom wall and each side wall beingformed with an opening passing therethrough and communicating with saidgroove so that when a liquid such as water is introduced into said headbox through said openings the liquid will flow along said groovesthrough said slot to accelerate the movement of paper stock at the endsof the slot in order to maintain the rate of movement of the stock atthe ends of the slot the same as the rate of movement of the stockbetween the ends of the slot.

2. In a machine for manufacturing paper, in combination, a head boxhaving front and bottom walls and a. pair of opposed sidewalls, all'ofsaid walls cooperating together to define a discharge slot extendingacross the head box for delivering paper stock from the interior of thehead box through said slot onto a moving wire mesh belt, said side wallseach being formed at its inner surface in the interior of the head boxwith an elongated groove leading to the slot in a directionsubstantially parallel to said bottom wall and each side wall beingformed with an oblique opening passing therethrough extending in thedirection of movement of the paper stock and communicating with saidgroove so that when a liquid such as Water is introduced into said headbox through said openings the liquid will flow along said groovesthrough said slot to accelerate the movement of paper stock at the endsof the slot in order to maintain the rate of movement of the stock atthe ends of the slot the same as the rate of movement of the stockbetween the ends of the slot, each of said openings having at the innersurface of the side wall in which it is formed'an end located nearer tothe slot than the opposite end of each opening at the exterior surfaceof each side wall so that the liquid flowing through said openings tosaid grooves moves toward said slot upon reaching said grooves.

3. In a machine for manufacturing paper, in combination, a head boxhaving front and bottom walls and a pair of opposite side walls, all ofsaid walls cooperating together to form, an elongated discharge slotextending across the head box for delivering paper stock from theinterior of the head box onto a moving wire mesh belt, each of said sidewalls being formed with an elongated groove at its interior surfaceextending substantially parallel to the bottom wall to said slot, andeach of said side walls being formed with a pair of openings leading tothe groove thereof for delivering to the groove a liquid such as water,the liquid flowing along the groove to accelerate the movement of thestock at the ends of the slot.

4. In a machine for manufacturing paper, in combination, a head boxhaving front and bottom walls and a pair of opposite side walls, all ofsaid walls cooperating together -to form an elongated. discharge slotextending across the head box for delivering paper stock from theinterior of the head box onto a moving wire mesh belt, each of said sidewalls being formed with an elongated groove at its interior surfaceextending substantially parallel to the bottom wall to said slot, andeach of said side walls being formed with a pair of openings leading tothe grooves thereof for delivering to the groove a liquid such as water,the liquid flowing along the groove to accelerate the movement of thestock at the ends of the slot, and conduit means connected to the outerside surfaces of said side walls and communicating. with said openingsthereof for delivering thereto a liquid such as water.

5. In a machine for manufacturing paper, in combination, a head boxhaving front and bottom walls and a pair of opposite side walls, all ofsaid walls cooperating together to form a discharge slot through whichstock is delivered from the interior of the head box onto a moving wiremesh belt, said slot extending across said head box and said side wallseach being formed with a groove extending substantially parallel to thebottom wall and leading to the slot in the interior of said box, andeach side wall being formed rearwardly of the slot adjacent to thebottom wall with an oblique opening extending in the direction ofmovement of the paper stock; a pair of plugs respectively located in andfilling said openings of said side walls, said plugs respectively havinginner surfaces formed with extensions of said grooves, respectively, andeach of said plugs being formed with at least one opening passingtherethrough and leading to the groove which is formed in part at theinner surface of each plug; and means for retaining said plug on eachside wall, said means being hollow and forming part of a conduit meanscommunicating with said opening of said plug for leading a liquidthereto to flow through the opening thereof into the groove whichcommunicates therewith to accelerate the movement of the stock at theend of the slot.

6. In a machine for delivering stock to a moving wire mesh belt in themanufacture of paper, in combination, a head box having front and bottomwalls and a pair of opposed side walls, all of said walls cooperatingtogether to form an elongated discharge slot extending across the headbox for delivering from the interior thereof paper stock onto a movingwire mesh belt, each of said side Walls being formed in the interior ofsaid box with an elongated groove extending parallel to the bottom wallup to the slot and each groove being undercut at its end distant fromthe slot, and each of said side walls being formed with an openingpassing therethrough and leading to the undercut end of the groove sothat a liquid passing through said opening into said groove willaccelerate the movement of the stock at the end of the slot where thegroove is located.

7. In a machine for manufacturing paper, in combination, a head boxhaving front and bottom walls and a pair of opposite side walls, all ofsaid walls cooperating together to form an elongated discharge slotextending from wall to wall through which paper stock is discharged ontoa moving wire mesh belt, each of said side walls being formed with asubstantially horizontal groove parallel to the bottom wall and locatedin the interior of the head box and leading to an end of the slot, andsaid side walls respectively being formed with a pair of obliqueopenings passing therethrough in the direction of flow of the paperstock and located at the rear end of said grooves, respectively; a pairof plugs located in and filling said openings of said side walls,respectively, said plugs respectively being formed with grooves whichform extensions of said side wall grooves and each plug groove beingundercut at its end most distant from said slot, each plug being formedwith an opening passing therethrough and communicating with the undercutend of the groove of each plug; and hollow means fixed to the exteriorsurfaces of said side walls for holding said plugs thereon, said hollowmeans acting as conduits for directing a liquid or the like to saidopenings of said plugs to flow through said openings into said groovesand along the latter for accelerating the movement of the paper stock atthe ends of the slot so that the stock does not move at a slower rate atthe ends of the slot than at the portion of the slot between its ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,909,150 Bell-Irving et al May 16, 1933 2,347,130 Seaborne Apr. 18,1944 2,756,648 Lee July 31, 1956 2,865,260 Lee Dec. 23, 1958 2,904,461Washburn et al. Sept. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 539,372 Germany Nov. 12,1931 419,369 Great Britain Nov. 12, 1934

